Heritage Statement for the Syferfontein
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HERITAGE STATEMENT FOR THE SYFERFONTEIN EXPANSION PROJECT, DIEPLAAGTE 123 IS, LANGSLOOT 99 IS, VAALBANK 96 IS, WILDEBEESTFONTEIN 122 IS, ZONDAGSFONTEIN 124 IS AND ZONDAGSKRAAL 125 IS, SECUNDA, MPUMALANGA PROVINCE SASOL MINING (PTY) LTD FEBRUARY 2014 _________________________________________________ Digby Wells and Associates (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd (Subsidiary of Digby Wells & Associates (Pty) Ltd). Co. Reg. No. 2010/008577/07. Fern Isle, Section 10, 359 Pretoria Ave Randburg Private Bag X10046, Randburg, 2125, South Africa Tel: +27 11 789 9495, Fax: +27 11 789 9498, [email protected], www.digbywells.com ________________________________________________ Directors: A Sing*, AR Wilke, LF Koeslag, PD Tanner (British)*, AJ Reynolds (Chairman) (British)*, J Leaver*, GE Trusler (C.E.O) *Non-Executive _________________________________________________ Heritage Statement for the Syferfontein Expansion Project, Dieplaagte 123 IS, Langsloot 99 IS, Vaalbank 96 IS, Wildebeestfontein 122 IS, Zondagsfontein 124 IS and Zondagskraal 125 IS, Secunda, Mpumalanga Province SAS1744 This document has been prepared by Digby Wells Environmental. Report Title: Heritage Statement for the Syferfontein Expansion Project, Dieplaagte 123 IS, Langsloot 99 IS, Vaalbank 96 IS, Wildebeestfontein 122 IS, Zondagsfontein 124 IS and Zondagskraal 125 IS, Secunda, Mpumalanga Province Project Number: SAS1744 Name Responsibility Signature Date Shahzaadee Karodia Assistant Heritage Specialist & Report February 2014 Consultant: Writer Palaeontological Specialist Johan Nel 1st Reviewer February 2014 Unit Manager: HRM Casper Joubert Environmental Project Manager February 2014 Consultant This report is provided solely for the purposes set out in it and may not, in whole or in part, be used for any other purpose without Digby Wells Environmental prior written consent. ii Heritage Statement for the Syferfontein Expansion Project, Dieplaagte 123 IS, Langsloot 99 IS, Vaalbank 96 IS, Wildebeestfontein 122 IS, Zondagsfontein 124 IS and Zondagskraal 125 IS, Secunda, Mpumalanga Province SAS1744 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Sasol Mining (Pty) Ltd (Sasol) has commissioned Digby Wells Environmental (Digby Wells) to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and associated studies for the proposed new brown fields operation near Secunda, Mpumalanga Province. The project is referred to as the Syferfontein Expansion project. Sasol Mining is planning to extend the existing Syferfontein Mine into the adjacent Block 4 reserves towards the north-west of the Syferfontein reserves. The proposed Block 4 reserves will be mined via underground methods. An Environmental Management Programme (EMP) and Integrated Water Use License Application (IWULA) for the existing Syferfontein Mine are available. Once the EIA / EMP for the proposed Block 4 operations is submitted, these documents are to be combined with the approved environmental authorisations obtained for the new Block 4 operation, in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act No. 28 of 2002) (MPRDA). The project area is approximately 8 987 ha. There will be no surface impacts as no infrastructure will be constructed on site. Based on desktop research and a heritage screening assessment (HSA) of the study and project areas, it is evident that diverse heritage resources are expected to occur in the proposed project area. Tangible resources include resources generally protected under the National Heritage Resources Act, 1999 (Act No. 25 of 1999) (NHRA) in terms of: ■ Section 34: historical structures older than 60 years; ■ Section 35: archaeological and palaeontological resources; and ■ Section 36: burial grounds and graves. Due to the absence of the construction of surface infrastructure sources of risk on potential heritage resources in the project area is limited to subsidence. Underground mining through the bord and pillar technique will not impact on archaeological, palaeontological, and built environment resources and burial grounds and graves that may exist on the surface and therefore an HIA is not required for this activity. However, a monitoring programme for inclusion into the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) must be established to assess possible impacts on heritage resource by subsidence. Underground mining presents a source of risk to potential palaeontological resources that may exist beneath the surface. Palaeontological resources that may exist between the shales and coals beneath the surface include plant fossils. According to Section 2 (xxxi) of the NHRA, however, palaeontological resources are defined as any fossilised remains or fossil trace of animals or plants other than fossil fuels or fossiliferous rock intended for industrial use. Furthermore, the fossils associated with the underground coal seams will be poorly preserved as the plants are greatly altered by the natural process of coalification. The iii Heritage Statement for the Syferfontein Expansion Project, Dieplaagte 123 IS, Langsloot 99 IS, Vaalbank 96 IS, Wildebeestfontein 122 IS, Zondagsfontein 124 IS and Zondagskraal 125 IS, Secunda, Mpumalanga Province SAS1744 risk presented by underground mining on potential subsurface palaeontological material, can however, be mitigated through Chance Find Procedures. iv Heritage Statement for the Syferfontein Expansion Project, Dieplaagte 123 IS, Langsloot 99 IS, Vaalbank 96 IS, Wildebeestfontein 122 IS, Zondagsfontein 124 IS and Zondagskraal 125 IS, Secunda, Mpumalanga Province SAS1744 GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS AND TERMS BA Bachelor of Arts BSc Bachelor of Science CE Common Era EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMP Environmental Management Plan GMLM Govan Mbeki Local Municipality GMM-IDP Govan Mbeki Municipality Integrated Development Plan GS-IDP Gert Sibande Integrated Development Plan HIA Heritage Impact Assessment HRA Heritage Resources Authority HRM Heritage Resources Management HSA Heritage Screening Assessment I&APs Interested and Affected Parties IWULA Integrated Water Use Licence Application KPA Key Performance Area LSA Later Stone Age MGDP Mpumalanga Growth and Development Path MJS Major Jackson Series MPHRA Mpumalanga Provincial Heritage Resources Agency MPRDA Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act No. 28 of 2002) MSA Middle Stone Age MSc Master of Science NEMA National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998) NHRA National Heritage Resources Act, 1999 (Act No. 25 of 1999) NID Notification of Intent to Develop SAHRA South African Heritage Resources Agency ToR Terms of Reference WITS University of the Witwatersrand v Heritage Statement for the Syferfontein Expansion Project, Dieplaagte 123 IS, Langsloot 99 IS, Vaalbank 96 IS, Wildebeestfontein 122 IS, Zondagsfontein 124 IS and Zondagskraal 125 IS, Secunda, Mpumalanga Province SAS1744 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF PROJECT .............................................................. 1 2.1 Project Details ................................................................................................. 1 2.2 Relevant Contact Details ................................................................................ 2 2.3 Legislative Framework .................................................................................... 6 2.3.1 Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act No. 28 of 2002) (MPRDA) .............................................................................................. 6 2.3.2 National Heritage Resources Act, 1999 (Act No. 25 of 1999) (NHRA) ............ 6 2.4 Terms of Reference ........................................................................................ 7 2.5 Scope of Work ................................................................................................ 8 2.6 Expertise of Specialist ..................................................................................... 8 3 METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................................. 9 3.1 Literature Review ............................................................................................ 9 3.2 Historical Layering .......................................................................................... 9 3.3 Heritage Screening Assessment ..................................................................... 9 3.4 Site Naming .................................................................................................... 9 3.4.1 Confirmed sites identified during desktop study .............................................. 9 3.4.2 Unconfirmed sites identified during desktop study ........................................ 10 3.4.3 Sites identified during screening assessment................................................ 10 3.5 Summary of Stakeholder Engagement.......................................................... 10 4 STATE OF THE RECEIVING ENVIRONMENT - CULTURAL LANDSCAPE ................. 10 4.1 Description of Property and / or Affected Environment .................................. 10 4.1.1 Location data ................................................................................................ 10 4.1.2 Location maps .............................................................................................. 10 4.1.3 Rezoning ...................................................................................................... 11 4.1.4 Development context